Influence of a Soft Story on the Seismic Response of Non-Structural Components

Multi-story, reinforced-concrete (RC) building structures with soft stories are highly vulnerable to damage due earthquake loads. The story causes a significant stiffness irregularity, which has led numerous buildings collapsing in previous seismic events. In addition the structural collapse, failure of non-structural components (NSCs) also been observed during past earthquakes. light this, this study investigates effect and its location on behavior supporting NSCs. is assumed be located bottom (ground), middle, top-story levels considered models. Story displacements inter-story drift ratios evaluated assess behavior. floor response spectra amplification effects NSC acceleration responses studied understand analysis results revealed that exhibits considerable vertical position substantially affects spectra. was found greater at soft-story level. This reported middle exhibit most remarkable component’s acceleration. Finally, peak demands compared code-based formulation, it formulation’s linear assumption may lead underestimated or overestimated.